Deathtraps: Federal, Lagos govts to shut 3rd Mainland Bridge for repairs

Deathtraps: Federal, Lagos govts to shut 3rd Mainland Bridge for repairs

 To end recurring accidents occasioned by potholes on the
Third Mainland Bridge, the Federal Government, in collaboration with the Lagos
State Government, will commence remedial repair works on bad portions of the
bridge next week.

 

Specifically, the bridge will be closed on two consecutive
Sundays, September 17 and 24, for the remedial works to be carried out by the
state Government through the Lagos Public Works Corporation, LPWC, in
collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Works.

 

Motorists have continued to lament the bad state of the
bridge, which has potholes on many parts, causing accidents.

 

While modalities by the state government for the
construction of the proposed Fourth Mainland Bridge have reached an advanced
stage, residents believe that the Third Mainland Bridge has been overstretched.

 

Confirming the planned rehabilitation of the Third Mainland
Bridge to be carried out in phases staring from next week, Permanent Secretary,
Lagos State Ministry of Transportation, Abdulhafiz Toriola, said it will allow
for unhindered rehabilitation works as traffic would be diverted during
construction to ensure early completion of the work.

 

Bridge to be shut for
2 consecutive Sundays

 

Toriola, who announced this, yesterday, added that the work
would take place on Sunday 17 and Sunday 24, September, 2023 between the hours
of 7.00 am and 7.00 pm each Sunday.

 

“The proposed works will be strictly executed in two phases
with phase one focusing on only the most critical sections on the
Iyana-Oworonsoki inward Adeniji Adele/Lagos Island,” he said.

 

Toriola explained that the palliative works were scheduled
for Sundays to minimize inconveniences for motorists.

 

Travel advisory

 

Consequently, the state government released travel advisory
to ensure seamless movement of traffic.

 

Toriola, therefore, advised motorists to ply the following
alternative routes during the rehabilitation works.

 

Route 1: The Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Alapere/Ogudu axis,
inwards Lagos Island, will be diverted towards Gbagada-Oshodi Expressway to
link Ikorodu Road/Funsho Williams Avenue to access Eko Bridge and Lagos Island.

 

Route 2: Motorists from Lagos Mainland going through Herbert
Macaulay Road (Adekunle axis) inwards Lagos Island via Third Mainland Bridge
will be diverted towards Murtala Muhammed Way to make use of Carter Bridge to
link Lagos Island.

 

He, therefore, urged motorists to be patient and observe
safety measures during the palliative works on the asphalt pavement of the
bridge.

 

He added that Lagos State Traffic Management Authority,
LASTMA, officers, Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, Nigeria police, and other
traffic personnel would be on ground to effectively control and manage traffic.

 

He said: “We assure that despite the traffic impact on the
alternative routes, LASTMA will be deployed to minimize inconveniences and ease
movement along the affected corridors.

 

“Various traffic agencies involved, in conjunction with
other security and safety personnel to form good synergy, will ensure
appropriate traffic management measures aimed at improving the safety and flow
of traffic, reducing traffic emissions and utilising traffic artery capacity
more effectively throughout the duration of the exercise.”

 

Motorists lament

 

Meanwhile, motorists plying the ever-busy 11.8km Third
Mainland Bridge, Lagos, second longest in Africa decried the poor state of some
sections of the bridge.

The bridge starts from the Oworonsoki axis of the Mainland,
ending at the Adeniji Adele Interchange axis on Lagos Island.

 

The potholes are visible on the Oworonsoki to Adekunle
section and continue while approaching Adeniji-Adele junction to Sura area of
the bridge.

 

On the flip side of the bridge, the potholes start from
Adekunle to Oworonsoki end.

Some of the motorists narrated their daily ordeals on the
bridge with a call to the governments for help.

 

Mr Ade Olabisi, an Uber driver, said: “I started this
commercial transportation business two years ago after I lost my job in a
private employment as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Most times I run
through Ajah and Mainland. Due to the bad spots, I have lost over three tyres
within the last six months when I bumped into potholes. But I thank God. It
could have been fatal if I was on high speed.

 

“I beg the Federal and state governments to fix these
potholes in the interest of the public and save people from avoidable deaths.

 

Another motorist, Mrs Florence Nwosu, who works on the
Island, said: “I was on my way to the office one wet morning when my car bumped
into one of the potholes. I struggled to maintain balance afterward.

 

“As I was approaching the Adekunle end my steering gradually
became stiff with a suspicious sound coming from the bonnet. Fortunately, I was
close to where some Rapid Response Squad, RRS, of the Lagos State Police
Command usually stationed.

 

“I opened the bonnet only to discover that my alternator
belt had torn and pulled off from the roller making the steering to be stiff.
This was apparently as a result of the car bumping into the pothole. I had to
call my mechanic on the Island to come and fix it, while I sought protection
with the RRS men as some miscreants appeared from nowhere looking for the owner
of the vehicle.

 

Another motorist, Mr. Ifeanyi Alozie, who is a trader on the
Island, said: “Motorists are always on high speed on the bridge despite many
potholes. This often results in fatal accidents.

 

“There was a particular accident that happened right in my
front few weeks ago. The owner of the Sport Utility Vehicle, SUV, on top speed
ran into one of the potholes and lost control hitting the side railing of the
bridge. He also had his air bag ruptured in the process. This is a weekly
occurrence on the bridge.

 

“Governments should ensure provision and maintenance of
basic infrastructure like roads and bridges, such as this. We are begging.”

 

Mr. Mohammed Seidu, a businessman, lamented the poor state
of the bridge, expressing his fear and plight while driving on the axis.

 

His words: “Despite several rehabilitation works there are
many bad portions on the bridge which have posed threat to lives. Most of these
government officials do drive on this bridge. I wonder why they have decided to
ignore it. A stitch in time saves nine, according to a wise saying.”

Source: Deathtraps: Federal, Lagos govts to shut 3rd Mainland Bridge for repairs

 - NigerianEye
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